a thief in the night-第30章

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〃I　suppose　you　thought　all。　that　meant　nothing？〃

〃I　didn't　look　for　a　meaning。〃

〃You　wouldn't；　it　would　never　occur　to　you　that　I　might　want　to　find　out　whether　anybody　at　the　Yard　had　found　out　that　there　was　something　precisely　in　the　nature　of　a　sidedoor　…　it　isn't　a　backdoor　…　to　that　chest。　　Well；　there　is　one；　there　was　one　soon　after　I　took　the　chest　back　from　your　rooms　to　mine；　in　the　good　old　days。　　You　push　one　of　the　handles　down　…　which　no　one　ever　does　　…　and　the　whole　of　that　end　opens　like　the　front　of　a　doll's　house。　　I　saw　that　was　what　I　ought　to　have　done　at　first：　it's　so　much　simpler　than　the　trap　at　the　top；　and　one　likes　to　get　a　thing　perfect　for　its　own　sake。　　Besides；　the　trick　had　not　been　spotted　at　the　bank；　and　I　thought　I　might　bring　it　off　again　some　day；　meanwhile；　in　one's　bedroom；　with　lots　of　things　on　top；　what　a　port　in　a　sudden　squall！〃　　　　I　asked　why　I　had　never　heard　of　the　improvement　before；　not　so　much　at　the　time　it　was　made；　but　in　these　later　days；　when　there　were　fewer　secrets　between　us；　and　this　one　could　avail　him　no　more。　But　I　did　not　put　the　question　out　of　pique。　　I　put　it　out　of　sheer　obstinate　incredulity。　　And　Raffles　looked　at　me　without　replying；　until　I　read　the　explanation　in　his　look。

〃I　see；〃　I　said。　　〃You　used　to　get　into　it　to　hide　from　me！〃

〃My　dear　Bunny；　I　am　not　always　a　very　genial　man；〃　he　answered；　〃but　when　you　let　me　have　a　key　of　your　rooms　I　could　not　very　well　refuse　you　one　of　mine；　although　I　picked　your　pocket　of　it　in　the　end。　　I　will　only　say　that　when　I　had　no　wish　to　see　you；　Bunny；　I　must　have　been　quite　unfit　for　human　society；　and　it　was　the　act　of　a　friend　to　deny　you　mine。　　I　don't　think　it　happened　more　than　once　or　twice。　　You　can　afford　to　forgive　a　fellow　after　all。　these　years？　　　　〃That；　yes；〃　I　replied　bitterly；　〃but　not　this；　Raffles。〃

〃Why　not？　　I　really　hadn't　made　up　my　mind　to　do　what　I　did。　　I　had　merely　thought　of　it。　　It　was　that　smart　officer　in　the　same　room　that　made　me　do　it　without　thinking　twice。〃

〃And　we　never　even　heard　you！〃　I　murmured；　in　a　voice　of　involuntary　admiration　which　vexed　me　with　myself。　　〃But　we　might　just　as　well！〃　I　was　as　quick　to　add　in　my　former　tone。

〃Why；　Bunny？〃

〃We　shall　be　traced　in　no　time　through　our　ticket　of　admission。〃

〃Did　they　collect　it？〃

〃No；　but　you　heard　how　very　few　are　issued。〃

〃Exactly。　　They　sometimes　go　weeks　on　end　without　a　regular　visitor。　It　was　I　who　extracted　that　piece　of　information；　Bunny；　and　I　did　nothing　rash　until　I　had。　　Don't　you　see　that　with　any　luck　it　will　be　two　or　three　weeks　before　they　are　likely　to　discover　their　loss？〃

I　was　beginning　to　see。

〃And　then；　pray；　how　are　they　going　to　bring　it　home　to　us？　　Why　should　they　even　suspect　us；　Bunny？　　I　left　early；　that's　all。　I　did。　You　took　my　departure　admirably；　you　couldn't　have　said　more　or　less　if　I　had　coached　you　myself。　　I　relied　on　you；　Bunny；　and　you　never　more　completely　justified　my　confidence。　　The　sad　thing　is　that　you　have　ceased　to　rely　on　me。　　Do　you　really　think　that　I　would　leave　the　place　in　such　a　state　that　the　first　person　who　came　in　with　a　duster　would　see　that　there　had　been　a　robbery？〃

I　denied　the　thought　with　all。　energy；　though　it　perished　only　as　I　spoke。

〃Have　you　forgotten　the　duster　that　was　over　these　things；　Bunny？　Have　you　forgotten　all。　the　other　revolvers　and　life　preservers　that　there　were　to　choose　from？　　I　chose　most　carefully；　and　I　replaced　my　relics　with　a　mixed　assortment　of　other　people's　which　really　look　just　as　well。　　The　rope…ladder　that　now　supplants　mine　is；　of　course；　no　patch　upon　it；　but　coiled　up　on　the　chest　it　really　looks　much　the　same。　　To　be　sure；　there　was　no　second　velvet　bag；　but　I　replaced　my　stick　with　another　quite　like　it；　and　I　even　found　an　empty　cartridge　to　understudy　the　setting　of　the　Polynesian　pearl。　You　see　the　sort　of　fellow　they　have　to　show　people　round：　do　you　think　he's　the　kind　to　see　the　difference　next　time；　or　to　connect　it　with　us　if　he　does？　　One　left　much　the　same　things；　lying　much　as　he　left　them；　under　a　dust…sheet　which　is　only　taken　off　for　the　benefit　of　the　curious；　who　often　don't　turn　up　for　weeks　on　end。〃

I　admitted　that　we　might　be　safe　for　three　or　four　weeks。　　Raffles　held　out　his　hand。

〃Then　let　us　be　friends　about　it；　Bunny；　and　smoke　the　cigarette　of　Sullivan　and　peace！　　A　lot　may　happen　in　three　or　four　weeks；　and　what　should　you　say　if　this　turned　out　to　be　the　last　as　well　as　the　least　of　all。　my　crimes？　　I　must　own　that　it　seems　to　me　their　natural　and　fitting　end；　though　I　might　have　stopped　more　characteristically　than　with　a　mere　crime　of　sentiment。　　No；　I　make　no　promises；　Bunny；　now　I　have　got　these　things；　I　may　be　unable　to　resist　using　them　once　more。　　But　with　this　war　one　gets　all。　the　excitement　one　requires　…　and　rather　more　than　usual　may　happen　in　three　or　four　weeks？〃　　　　Was　he　thinking　even　then　of　volunteering　for　the　front？　　Had　he　already　set　his　heart　on　the　one　chance　of　some　atonement　for　his　life　…　nay；　on　the　very　death　he　was　to　die？　　I　never　knew；　and　shall　never　know。　　Yet　his　words　were　strangely　prophetic；　even　to　the　three　or　four　weeks　in　which　those　events　happened　that　imperilled　the　fabric　of　our　empire；　and　rallied　her　sons　from　the　four　winds　to　fight　beneath　her　banner　on　the　veldt。　　It　all。　seems　very　ancient　history　now。　　But　I　remember　nothing　better　or　more　vividly　than　the　last　words　of　Raffles　upon　his　last　crime；　unless　it　be　the　pressure　of　his　hand　as　he　said　them；　or　the　rather　sad　twinkle　in　his　tired　eyes。




The　Last　Word


The　last　of　all。　these　tales　of　Raffles　is　from　a　fresher　and　a　sweeter　pen。　　I　give　it　exactly　as　it　came　to　me；　in　a　letter　which　meant　more　to　me　than　it　can　possibly　mean　to　any　other　reader。　And　yet；　it　may　stand　for　something　with　those　for　whom　these　pale　reflections　have　a　tithe　of　the　charm　that　the　real　man　had　for　me；　and　it　is　to　leave　such　persons　thinking　yet　a　little　better　of　him　（and　not　wasting　another　thought　on　me）　that　I　am　permitted　to　retail　the　very　last　word　about　their　hero　and　mine。

The　letter　was　my　first　healing　after　a　chance　encounter　and　a　sleepless　night；　and　I　print　every　word　of　it　except　the　last

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃39　CAMPDEN　GROVE　COURT；　W。；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃June　28；　1900。

〃DEAR　HARRY：　You　may　have　wondered　at　the　very　few　words　I　could　find　to　say　to　you　when　we　met　so　strangely　yesterday。　　I　did　not　mean　to　be　unkind。　　I　was　grieved　to　see　you　so　cruelly　hurt　and　lame。　　I　could　not　grieve　when　at　last　I　made　you　tell　me　how　it　happened。　　I　honor　and　envy　every　man　of　you　…　every　name　in　those　dreadful　lists　that　fill　the　papers　every　day。　　But　I　knew　about　Mr。　Raffles；　and　I　did　not　know　about　you；　and　there　was　something　I　longed　to　tell　you　about　him；　something　I　could　not　tell　you　in　a　minute　in　the　street；　or　indeed　by　word　of　mouth　at　all。　　That　is　why　I　asked　you　for　your　address。

〃You　said　I　spoke　as　if　I　had　known　Mr。　Raffles。　　Of　course　I　have　often　seen　him　playing　cricket；　and　heard　about　him　and　you。　But　I　only　once　met　him；　and　that　was　the　night　after　you　and　I　met　last。　　I　have　always　supposed　that　you　knew　all。　about　our　meeting。　　Yesterday　I　could　see　that　you　knew　nothing。　　So　I　have　made　up　my　mind　to　tell　you　every　word。

〃That　night　…　I　mean　the　next　night　…　they　were　all。　going　out　to　several　places；　but　I　stayed　behind　at　Palace　Gardens。　　I　had　gone　up　to　the　drawing…room　after　dinner；　and　was　just　putting　on　the　lights；　when　in　walked　Mr。　Raffles　from　the　balcony。　　I　knew　him　at　once；　because　I　happened　to　have　watched　him　make　his　hundred　at　Lord's　only　the　day　before。　　He　seemed　surprised　that　no　one　had　told　me　he　was　there；　but　the　whole　thing　was　such　a　surprise　that　I　hardly　thought　of　that。　　I　am　afraid　I　must　say　that　it　was　not　a　very　pleasant　surprise。　　I　felt　instinctively　that　he　had　come　from　you；　and　I　confess　that　for　the　moment　it　made　me　very　angry　indeed。　　Then　in　a　breath　he　assured　me　that　you　knew　nothing　of　his　coming；　that　you　would　never　have　allowed　him　to　come；　but　that　he　had　taken　it　upon　himself　as　your　intimate　friend　and　one　who　would　be　mine　as　well。　　（I　said　that　I　would　tell　you　every　word。）

〃Well；　we　stood　looking　at　each　other　for　some　time；　and　I　was　never　more　convinced　of　anybody's　straightness　and　sincerity；　but　he　was　straight　and　sincere　with　me；　and　true　to　you　that　night；　whatever　he　may　have　been　before　and　after。　　So　I　asked　him　why　he　had　come；　and　what　had　happened；　and　he　said　it　was　not　what　had　happened；　but　what　might　happen　next；　so　I　asked　him　if　he　was　thinking　of　you；　and　he　just　nodded；　and　told　me　that　I　knew　very　well　what　you　had　done。　　But　I　began　to　wonder　whether　Mr。　Raffles　himself　knew；　and　I　tried　to　get　him　to　tell　me　what　you　had　done；　and　he　said　I　knew　as　well　as　he　did　that　you　were　one　of　the　two　men　who　had　come　to　the　house　the　night　before。　　I　took　some　time　to　answer。　　I　was　quite　mystified　by　his　manner。　　At　last　I　asked　him　how　he　knew。　　I　can　hear　his　answer　now。

〃'Because　I　was　the　other　man；'　he　said　quite　quietly；　'because　I　led　him　blindfold　into　the　whole　business；　and　would　rather　pay　the　shot　than　see　poor　Bunny　suffer　for　it。'

〃Those　were　his　words；　but　as　he　said　them　he　made　their　meaning　clear　by　going　over　to　the　bell；　and　waiting　with　his　finger　ready　to　ring　for　whatever　assistance　or　protection　I　desired。　　Of　course　I　would　not　let　him　ring　at　all。；　in　fact；　at　first　I　refused　to　believe　him。　　Then　he　led　me　out　into　the　balcony；　and　showed　me　exactly　how　he　had　got　up　and　in。　　He　had　broken　in　for　the　second　night　running；　and　all。　to　tell　me　that　the　first　night　he　had　brought　you　with　him　on　false　pretences。　　He　had　to　tell　me　a　great　deal　more　before　I　could　quite　believe　him。　　But　before　he　went　（as　he　had　come）　I　was　the　one　woman　in　the　world　who　knew　that　A。　J。　Raffles；　the　great　cricketer；　and　the　so…called　'amateur　cracksman'　of　equal　notoriety；　were　one　and　the　same　person。

〃He　had　told　me　his　secret；　thrown　himself　on　my　mercy；　and　put　his　liberty　if　not　his　life　in　my　hands；　but　all。　for　your　sake；　Harry；　to　right　you　in　my　eyes　at　his　own　expense。　　And　yesterday　　I　could　see　that　you　knew　nothing　whatever　about　it；　that　your　friend　had　died　without　telling　you　of　his　act　of　real　and　yet　vain　self…sacrifice！　　Harry；　I　can　only　say　that　now　I　understand　your　friendship；　and　the　dreadful　lengths　to　which　it　carried　you。　　How　many　in　your　place　would　not　have　gone　as　far　for　such　a　friend？　Since　that　night；　at　any　rate；　I　for　one　have　understood。　　It　has　grieved　me　more　than　I　can　tell　you；　Harry；　but　I　have　always　understood。

〃He　spoke　to　me　quite　simply　and　frankly　of　his　life。　　It　was　wonderful　to　me　then　that　he　should　speak　of　it　as　he　did；　and　still　more　wonderful　that　I　should　sit　and　listen　to　him　as　I　did。　But　I　have　often　thought　about　it　since；　and　have　long　ceased　to　wonder　at　myself。　　There　was　an　absolute　magnetism　about　Mr。　Raffles　which　neither　you　nor　I　could　resist。　　He　had　the　strength　of　personality　which　is　a　different　thing　from　strength　of　character；　but　when　you　meet　both　kinds　together；　they　carry　the　ordinary　mortal　off　his　or　her　fe